Leo the lion cub was a whirlwind of energy! He loved to zoom around, build tall towers of blocks, and roar with delight. But tonight, Mama Lion said, “Leo, it’s almost bedtime. We need to start our quiet time.” Leo’s ears drooped. Quiet time wasn’t nearly as fun as zooming!
“But I’m not tired!” Leo protested, bouncing on his paws. Mama Lion smiled gently. “Being tired isn’t the only reason for bedtime activities, Leo. They help our bodies and minds calm down so we can have sweet dreams. Tonight, we’ll try three special things.”
First, Mama Lion dimmed the lights and brought out a basket of soft, colorful playdough. “Let’s make sleepy shapes,” she suggested. Leo, though still a little wiggly, began to squish and roll the dough. He made a long, curvy snake and a round, fluffy cloud. Focusing on the playdough helped his zooming thoughts slow down.
Next, Mama Lion brought out a book filled with pictures of twinkling stars and peaceful forests. “Now, let’s look at these calming pictures and take three deep breaths with each page,” she said. Leo snuggled close, pointing out the bright stars and whispering about the sleepy owls. He practiced breathing in slowly, like smelling a flower, and breathing out slowly, like blowing bubbles. It felt…nice.
Finally, Mama Lion turned on a small lamp and began to tell a story about a little firefly who learned to shine his light softly. Leo listened intently, imagining the firefly blinking in the dark. Mama Lion’s voice was soothing and gentle, and Leo felt his eyelids getting heavier and heavier.
“Wow,” Leo yawned, stretching. “Those activities…they actually worked! I feel much calmer now.” Mama Lion tucked him into bed. “That’s because you let yourself relax, Leo. Bedtime activities aren’t about *stopping* the fun, they’re about *changing* the fun to help you prepare for sleep.”
Leo closed his eyes, remembering the squishy playdough, the twinkling stars, and the sleepy firefly. He realized that winding down could be fun too. He whispered, “Goodnight, Mama.”
Mama Lion kissed his forehead. “Goodnight, my little lion. Sweet dreams.” And as Leo drifted off to sleep, he knew that even the most energetic lion cub could find peace and quiet with a little help from bedtime activities.